shaneMcAlister

If you could watch trackside on sky you also get 64 ????
 

What a champion she is I know plenty has been said about her..but what an amazing spring she has had...well don to everyone concerned...super for everyone and great for NZ racing.

As far I am concerned if Tony Lee is being forced out that’s very disappointing. 
There’s been dozens of “bleeders” on the TAB payroll over the last 20 years and Tony isn’t one. 
Yes that’s my opinion and I am prepared stand by it. 
Liz
 

 

 

Always tough for the apprentices during a carnival when their claims aren't of value and there are loads of interstate and international jockeys in town.  Thats why Celine Gaudray made the call to ride Pukekohe last weekend.  

Wow.       Well done, Erin.   

If you're not already aware. Trackside is also broadcasting on Sky Channel 64 today...Extended coverage from Hastings and Randwick apparently.

Just waiting for Miss Jools to remind us that you meant the Karaka Millions 🤣🤣🤣

I visited the Ellerslie track reconstruction  today.
I had last been there in January this year where bull dozers and huge  uclids and stones dominated the vast property.
To my mind then, there was no possibility of a 2024  race meeting.
However, today I walked some of the main straight and eyed the camber past the winning post. 
It, the camber past the winning post, looks the same as when I  filmed Kirrama and Balmerino  on super 8mm cameras.
And  years later I stood near Keith Haub  in the supreme commentary box when  Mc Ginty  won the Air NZ Stakes ?
I know nothing about the science behind the strathye track. Other than what  Craig Baker has said on Track side.
I would have bet  $ 1000  to 1 against  in January 23  that the Magic Millions meeting  2024  would run all races..
After my jaunt today  at NZs Head Quarters,  I think and hope that the probability is 75% .
So good luck Craig Baker and your wonderful team.
It is certainly achievable .
 
 

The track presented for last meeting was unacceptable - poorly maintained and prepared. That will not be a surprise for anyone who has been to the course in past few years.
Avondale JC has the power to transform NZ racing via their assets.

Odds on Imperatriz connections having a change of mind ?

Nice day here, golf course was great…..🤣🤣

Andrew Bayly

Down for 6 rides at Morphetville on Saturday with 3kg claim...hope they've got it right!!!

Following is a story I wrote for the Owners Bulletin. The reason for putting it up is recognition of those who make a difference.
 
WINTER 2023 13
NEW ZEALAND EQUINE ACADEMY
A collaboration between education-provider Skill New Zealand Limited and Byerley Park Limited,
New Zealand Equine Academy was created as YOUR pathway to a career in New Zealand’s exciting equine industry.
 
What is the most important thing for the future? Of course, it is those that come after us and carry on what we and that those that went before have put in place. IT IS THE YOUNG!
Some years ago I wrote a story on Byerley Park, meeting Daniel and Elias Nahkle down there at the facility. Daniel said they had a plan to enable an equine academy to provide an education for young aspirants in the equine industry.
To that end they built a classroom on a rise and were seeking a collaboration with NZQA accreditation in mind. Retired jockey Donavan Mansour was lined up to teach and I resolved to see where this went. Then Covid intervened.
But we lead a fairly busy life and when recently I heard Donavan was transferring to Cambridge to set up an Apprentice Jockey Academy, as well as recruiting more students and upskilling students in the workplace. I thought I had better get cracking before he goes.
Auckland Owners President Mike Gething and I headed down, met Donavan at a repurposed barn and were introduced to a roomful of delightful girls who were in the main very engaged. They were from all over the country.
There was maybe a dozen in the class, and they were at week 4 of a 14-week course.
The cost of which is zero as it is partially funded by the TEC (Tertiary Education Commission) and Daniel Nakhle.
Byerley Park teamed up with Education provider Skills New Zealand Ltd to create the New Zealand Equine Academy.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS – A passion for horse, Physical fitness – Age 16 + years.
GRADUATE PROFILE OUTCOMES – Knowledge, skills and confidence – Ability to safely handle horses in an equine facility – Proficiently create and maintain a clean and safe equine environment.
The course rises to level 3 and the girls said that they did not have a pre-conceived decision of where they ended up. The first thing was to get a stable hand certificate which assured a proficiency to care and handle horses. And then look at options. There was a lot of enthusiasm to gain riding skills for trackwork. Two girls said they definitely wanted to be jockeys,
Donavan leads the group with a developed syllabus that covers work – life skills and all aspects of equine care.
The course work is varied and wide ranging. Guest speakers attend and provide valuable additional information.
Dunstan Feeds nutritionist Gretel Webber is a regular who pitches her talks to whichever level of class present.
Behind the classroom is a well-appointed gym with a lot of apparatus, some for-riding exercises. Notably there was a full sized exercise horse that had a large mirror on the near side so the rider could check the style.
But it is not all classwork and likely it is the “out of class” experiences that keep the group fizzing. There is the ”self-care and pitching in” that is part of the course. The students live in on site in the main and prepare their own meals and maintain the living spaces. There are prizes of Countdown and New World vouchers to be won for good effort.
The cost to live on-site is $180 per week.
Then there are visits where they see vets at work, stud farms and racing stables. They visit feed companies. museums and attend bloodstock sales. They can go to the races with the float driver, see the starter, camera crew and stewards at work.
And then there are the jockeys the strappers – and us the owners to observe.
Prior to going to the Academy, I had sought from a handful of associates what I should say to these young aspirational equine workers. Well I got a page of those comments... who hasn’t had a jockey leap off the horse and wordlessly dive for the jockeys room? Maybe a stablehand that ignored you?
But as many grizzles as there were there was supportive comments that wanted the youngies to know how important we see the people who look after our investment. And how we appreciate them sharing a word with us.
The class listened attentively. Mike and I thought it was great to imprint our thoughts on young minds.
I left the sheet of those comments with Donavan. He was with visiting jockey Warren Kennedy. I light-heartedly offered a copy to Warren. He laughingly refused and said, “I know all those.”
Change is coming, Donavan is transferring to Cambridge to set up n jockeys’ apprentice school and level 3 Equine skills programme. Donavan will remain Programme Leader and under his wing will be Amber Sims, the well – known rider/trainer. Amber is sub 30 years old and the daughter of local trainer Patsy Riley. Amber is a past Ellerslie “Fashions in The Field” winner so she is an all-round class act. The other tutor/riding coach is Renee Faulkner. Renee is from a racing family and is a talented events rider.
Donavan says, “The Academy gets some funding from TEC which does help but Daniel Nahkle has in the main been funding the programme. We do have support from Dunstan Horse Feeds and Majestic Horse Floats and have
just brought on NZB as an official sponsor. We are always open to industry supporters, whether its financial, products or even volunteering their time to come and share their expertise with the students.”
We recognise the vision of the Nahkle family for the inception of the NZ Equine Academy and the where-with-all to bring it all into being. Donavan has been there from the start and then there is Skill New Zealand the education provider.
In an all-round word, commendable!
Lastly Mike and I would like to say thank you to the girls (class). We thought you were great. If you can – go on and take your chance. We need you.
The industry needs you!
What you are learning is a skill that will give you a job around the world. But we would love to see you here.
Neil Miller
14 NEW ZEALAND THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSE OWNERS FEDERATION BULLETIN

Here is a article putting a few pieces together in the puzzle
https://www.racehorseowner.co.nz/racing-tales/a-family-affair-at-devon-oaks-cambridge/